December 31, 2008 > Hawaii Free Press

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

December 31, 2008
By Andrew Walden @ 9:55 PM :: 11632 Views

Worst climate predictions of 2008

We’re now well into the earth’s third straight harsher winter—but in late 2007 it was still hard to forget 22 straight years of global warming from 1976–1998. So the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted 2008 would be the hottest year in the last 100.

But sunspots had been predicting major cooling since 2000, and global temperatures turned downward in early 2007. The sunspots have had a 79 percent correlation with the earth’s thermometers since 1860. Today’s temperatures are about on a par with 1940.

RELATED: IBD "The Warm Turns"

Obama tied to Norman Hsu/Hillary Clinton Ponzi case

Hsu's lawyer Martin Cohen also noted that Hsu was already "notorious for his political activities" and that it was "inevitable" that his client's "connections" to Bill and Hillary Clinton "and other democratic notables--including perhaps the president-elect--will be introduced at trial."

(They're just poppin up like mushrooms after a rainfall...)

Racketeering: Kaialau gets 20-year sentence

Some two dozen relatives and friends appeared in the court of U.S. District Judge David Ezra to support Kaialau. Many other supporters, including community and corporate leaders and active and retired Honolulu Police Department officers, wrote letters on his behalf, asking Ezra to consider releasing him on bail before and during trial.

Following the verdict in 2007, (Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas) Brady said, "There is organized crime in Hawai'i," and he pledged that federal authorities "will confront organized crime and we will defeat it."

Brady said yesterday he could not comment further because a related case, the trial of Rodney Joseph Jr. and Ethan Motta, is scheduled to begin next month. Those men are accused of running a criminal group that competed with Kaialau's organization to provide muscle for illegal gambling operations on O'ahu. Rodney and Motta allegedly shot and killed two men at the Pali municipal golf course parking lot as part of underworld jostling over gambling revenues.

Another beach assault: Maui family pleads for help

WAILUKU - Police continue to investigate what the family of an 18-year-old Kihei man call a vicious and senseless attack during a party at Polipoli State Recreation Area early Wednesday morning....

Jesse Jarvie remained semiconscious Monday after suffering a broken jaw, missing teeth and a fractured skull. He still hasn't been able to speak to investigators, said Lt. John Jakubczak of the Maui Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division.

Hamas reintroduces Crucifixion

Both Iran and its Hamas proxy in Gaza have been busy this Christmas week showing Christendom just what they think of it. But no one seems to have noticed.

On Tuesday, Hamas legislators marked the Christmas season by passing a Shari'a criminal code for the Palestinian Authority. Among other things, it legalizes crucifixion.

Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad. Here, too, Hamas wanted to make sure that Christians didn't feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at Jewish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday, Hamas lobbed a mortar shell at the Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.

Isle bankruptcies hit 3-year high

Rising foreclosures and soaring unemployment propelled Hawaii bankruptcy cases up 49.5 percent in 2008 over last year

Caldwell rewarded for bollixed Bainum challenge

Mayor Mufi Hannemann today named Kirk Caldwell his new managing director, the city's highest appointed post. (Next, Mufi runs for Gov--Caldwell becomes mayor...or so they hope.)

Advertiser: Caldwell gets No. 2 post, praised for rail push

After 21 years: Justice for slain woman

A man serving a life sentence for an Oahu murder will be sentenced next week for a 1987 slaying in Hilo. Frank Janto, 45, changed his plea to guilty in October for the Jan. 15, 1987, stabbing death of Rose Chiquita, 65, whose body was found in the bathroom of a Hilo gas station.